EU and Mercosur trade deal nears completion as von der Leyen visits Uruguay
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Uruguay to finalize a trade deal between the EU and the Mercosur bloc, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. This agreement aims to create a market of about 700 million people. Despite objections from some EU countries, particularly France, von der Leyen stated that the deal is close to completion. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed strong concerns about the impact on local farmers, calling the current proposal "unacceptable." The EU Commission negotiates on behalf of all member states, so a provisional deal could be reached soon. However, it may face challenges if any member states refuse to support it.